Manage your subscription

Plans for NASA's future in disarray

19 June 2004

Confusion reigns over US policy on the privatisation of space flight. While a White House review recommends that most NASA launches be privatised, a Senator is blocking a bill meant to foster a private human space-flight industry.

On Wednesday, a commission appointed by President Bush to study how best to implement his vision of human exploration of the moon and Mars called for a major overhaul of NASA, including privatising virtually all unmanned NASA launches. The nine-member panel, headed by ex-Air Force Secretary Pete Aldridge, envisages the emergence of private space-flight businesses, with NASA helping the process along. For starters, …